Casing for laminated springs



Dec. 4,1923. 1,476,568

J. ZULlCH CASING FOR LAMINATED SPRINGS Filed March 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In yen for:

W 3AM 13 Hiforne} Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,568

J. ZULICH CASING FOR LAMINATED SPRINGS Filed March 8. 1922: 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 555B: mew

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,476,568 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ZUILICH, OF

CLEVELAND, omo, ASSIGNOR or ronrx-mnnonn-nunnann'rns '10 CARL w. scnmraa, or LAKEWOOD, 01110.

CASING FOR LAMINATED SPRINGS.

Application filed h'areh 8, 1922. Serial No. 541,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JOHN ZULICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Casing\for Laminated Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rotective and lubricating flexible casings or laminated springs, and pertains more especiallyyto a flexible metal casing extending longitudinally of and adapted toflex with adaminated spring which is reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be connected at said end to a vehicle-body or object in the support and cushioning of which the spring is to participate.

One object of this invention is to produce a highly practical casing of the character indicated which extends longitudinally of the spring and comprises a flexible strip spirally wound or coiled a suitable number of times around the sprin in the direction of the thickest portion the spring from a point adjacent the aforesaid end .of the spring and held against unwinding.

Another object is to roduce' a strong, durable, inexpensive an attractive metal casing of the character indicated which is adapted to expand or contract endwise of the spring as may be retf uired during flexing of the sprin and aoilitated and insures adequate. lu ricdtion of the leaves of the spring.

With these objects in view, and to attain any other object hereinafter appearing, this invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations and relative arrangements of parts, hereinafter described in this specification pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a flexible sheet-metal strip employed in making a casing embodying my invention, and the central portion';of said strip is shown broken away to reduce the size of the drawing. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.-

Fig'. 3 is a side elevation of a laminated spring provided with a flexible casing embodying my invention and shows the spring mounted on a spring-supporting member which is shown in cross-section. Fig. 4 is a side view of the free end mrtion of the spring and s ring-surrounding casing shown in Fig. 3. 5 is a top plan in relation to Fig. 4, and a portion is broken away in Fig. 5 to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 6 is'a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken along the lire 77 .in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a section taken alon the line 8-8 in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a vertica section taken along the line 9--9 in Fig. 7. Figs. 4, 5, '6, 7, 8 and 9 are drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figs. 1 and 2 of said drawings show a thin flexible sheet-metal strip 12 employed in making my improved casi I nated-spring, and in Fig. 3 1s shown a vehic'le-axle or member 13 on which is mounted a laminated spring comprising several superposed leaves 14 extending longitudinally of the spring. Said spring is shown as overlapping the to porting member 13 an secured to said member13 in any approved manner, as, for instance, by a suitably applied clip comprising a top plate 15 mounted on the spring and bolts 16 and nuts 17 by which the spring is'caused to be clamped by and. between said plate and said spring-supporting member. The constructionand application of a spring-securing clip are too well known in the art to require further description and illustration in this specification. Suflice it to state that said spring is rigid with'the supporting member 13 and pro ects laterally of said supporting member in one direction and has a vertically. movable or free end which is spaced in said direction from :said supporting member, that the upper of for. a lamiof the spring-supther in said direction than the lower ofsaid pate.

The strip 12 shown in 1, and 2 .is'

preferably sold wound on a spool (not 1 shown) and, when needed for-the tormationof a casingfor a laminated spring, is unwound from the spool and then spirally wound or coiled several times around the spring, as shown in Fig. 3, in the direct-ion of the axle-overlapping or fixed and thickest portion of the spring from a point adjacent the hereinbefore mentioned free end of the sprin and held against unwinding from the sprmg as will hereinafter appear. The strip 12 has two parallel outwardly projecting ofi'set portions and .21 which are formed at the outer side and extend endwise-of the strip. Said ofi'set portions are unequal in size in cross-section and spaced widthwise of said strip. llhe ofiset portion 21 is enough larger than the ofiset portion 20 not only to cover the smaller ofi'set por, tion 20 but'to space the larger ofl'set portion 21 at opposite sides of and from said smaller ofiset portion when the strip 12 has been spirally wound around the spring as will hereinafter appear. Preferably the smaller oflset portion 20 terminates in one of the substantially parallel-longitudinal edges of the strip 12 and the larger oltset portion 21 is somewhat spaced from the other of said edges. Preferably the end portion 22 of the strip 12 (see Fig. 1) is gradually reduced in width in the direction of the out/er extremity of said end portion and toward the smallenofiset portion 20 which extends to said extremity, so as to form an edge 23 extending diagonally of the strip from said extremity to the adjacent end of larger-oilset portion 21 and so that said a. ofiset portion is spaced, atits end which terminates in said edge 23, a suitable distance from said extremity in the direction of the other end portion of said strip.

Preferably the end portion 25 of the strip 12 (see Fig. 1) is reduced in width in the direction of the outer extremity of said-end portion and toward the larger odset portion 21 which extends to said extremity, so as to form an edge 26' extending diagonall of the strip from said extremity to then jacent end of the smaller ofiset portion 20. The dimensions of the end portion 22 of the strip 12 are such that, upon applying the outer end of said end portion of Sit-1d strip to the top of the spring at a point adjacent the eve or member 18 of the spring, as shown in Fig. 5, the diagonal ed e 23 of said end portion of said strip has t e part thereof which extends along the outer end (3 of said end portion of said strip substantially parallel with said eye or member 18 and, by wrapping said end portion of said strip aroun the sprin the larger ofiset portion 21 has its on which terminates in said edge 23 brought into such relation to the adjacent end of the smaller ofiset portion 20 that said end of said smaller ofiset portion 20 underlies said end of the ler ofiset 'on 21, as she in Fig.

5, and said ends of said ofi'set portions extend diagonally of the spring and are arranged as required to permit and facilitate winding of the strip 12 spirally around the sprin in the direction of thethickest portion 01? the sping.

The spirally wound strip'and both of its ofiset portions 20 and 21 extend several times completely around the spring, and the smaller odset portion 20 of the spirally wound strip is substantially completelyccovered by or housed in the larger offset portion 21. Preferably the spirally wound strip and its ofi'set portions 20 and 21 extend at least once completely around the spring in every three inches of the length of the easing comprising said strip, and the larger ofi'set' portion 21 measures enough more in internal width than the external width of the smaller ofl'set portion 20 to render the spirally wound strip, and consequently. the casing comprising said strip, extensible and contractible endwise of the spring so as to mrmit the desired expansion or contraction of said casing endwise of the spring as may be required during the flexing of the spring. Preferably the smaller. ofiset portion 20 of the spirally wound strip has such dimensions in cross-section in relation to the larger odset portion 21 of said strip that, as shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9, opposite side portions of said larger ofi'set portion not only extend opposite but are materially spaced from opposite sides respectivel of the smaller 0&- set portion 20 when said smaller odset portion. is substantially central widthwise of the larger odset portion.

By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that the spirallywound strip has one end portion thereof adjacent the movable or free end of the spring and is wound spirally around the spring in the direction of thethickest portion of the spring, and the other end portion of the spirally wound strip terminates adjacent the axleoverlapping or thickest portion ofthe spring and (see Figs. 3, 7 and 9) extends into close proximity to the adjacent edge of the top plate 15 of the herein-fore mentioned clip, and said spirally wound strip is shown held at its last-mentioned end portion ainst unwinding by a sheet-metal strap 28 which surrounds the enclosure formed by said strip and is arranged in' close proximity to said Preferably the strip 12 has its end portion 25 long enough to permit such trimming and contouring of said end portion of said strip, upon winding said strip on the spring, as required not only to form a flange 29 which (see Figs. 3 and 7') projects downwardly from the enclosure formed by the spirally wound strip and is interposed, at the bottom of said enclosure, between the strap 28 and the spring-supporting member 13, but to form a flange 30 which (see Figs. 3, 7 and 9) projects upwardly from said enclosure and is interposed, at the top of said enclosure, between said strap and the adjacent edge of the clip-plate 15. It will be observed-that the strap 28, although it extends over an adjacent part of the larger-oil'set portion 21 of the spirally wound strip as shown in Fig. 7 is confined between another part of said oflset portion and the top flange 30 as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, so that the last-mentioned part of said offset portion is arranged to prevent displacement of said strap endwise of the spring-surrounding casing in the direction of the eye or member 18 of the spring, and the flanges 29 and 30 are arranged to prevent displacement of said strap in the opposite direction. Preferably the strap 28 tightly embraces the enclosure formed by the spirally wound strip and (see Fig. 7) has its end portions 31 and 32 arranged at the bottom of and under said enclosure. The end portion 32 of said strap has a slot 33 extend- 1ng transversely of the strap, and the other end portion 31 of the strap overlaps the inner side of the slotted end portion 32 from the free extremity of said slot-ted end portion to said slot and extends from said side of said slotted end portion through saidslot and is bent, as at 34, against the outer side of said slotted end portion and overlaps the transverse edge of said slotted end portion, as at 35.

Under the spring, at a short distance from the eye or member 18 of the spring (see Figs.

6 and 8), is a rectangular metal plate 36 which is arranged at the bottom and extends transversely of the spring-surrounding casing comprising the spirally wound strip and has a central hole 37 extending through the plate and a downwardly projecting annular flange 38 extending circumfere'ntially of said hole and engaging but not projecting below a hole 39 formed inthe bottom of said casing. The tubular-body 40 of a lubricant supplying cup, arranged in the main externally ofsaid casing, has its inner end portion screw-threaded externally and threaded at the hole 37 into the plate 36, and said body has an external annular shoulder 41 abutting against the outer side of the bottom of said casing, and said bottom is clamped by and between said shoulder and said plate. The plate 36 and the member 40 are applied during or preparatory to the formation of said casing. Preferably the plate 36 has its transverse or end edges in close proximity to and facing the sides of said casing so that said plate is held against displacement circumferentially of the inner end of the body 40. Saidbody 40 is screwthreaded internally, and a correspondingly externally threaded plug 42'is screwed into and therefore removable from said body.

Obviously, when the body 40 contains grease or lubricant between'the inner end of the plug 42 and the inner end of said body, rotation of said plug in the direction required to shift the plug inwardly results in the'discharge of lubricant from the inner end of said body.

By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that the member 40 constitutes the lubricant-inlet of the springsurrounding casing, and that the offset poradapted to be supported at a point spaced from said end, of a casing comprlsing a flexible strip which is wound around-the spring in the direction of the thickest portion of the spring and held against unwinding and has two spaced outwardly projecting portions extending endwise of the strip, one of said projecting portions of the spirally wound strip being contoured in cross-section and arranged as required to form a cover or housing for the other of said projecting portions and having the dimensions required to permit and facilitate flexing of the casing and spring.

2. The combination, with a laminated spring which has an end free to move and is reduced in thickness toward said end and adaptedto be supported at a point'spaced from said end, of a flexible sheet-metal strip which is wound around the spring in the direction of the thickest portion of the spring and has two spaced outwardly projecting portions extending endwise of the strip, one of said projecting portions of the spirally wound strip being contoured in cross-section and arranged as required to form a cover or housing for the other of said projecting portions and having the dimensions required to render the spirally wound strip extensible and contractible endwise of the spring, and said spirally wound strip being held, adjacent the thickest portion of the spring, against unwinding.

3. The combination, with a laminated spring which has an end free to move and is adaptedto be supported at a point spaced from said end, of a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent saidend of the spring and'iswound around the spring in the direction of the aforesaid point and has two spaced outwardly projecting ofiset portions which extend endwise of the strip and spirally around the spring and are unequal in size in cross-section, the larger offset portionof the spirally wound strip being arrangedexternally ofand forming a cover for the smaller offset portion of said strip and having the dimensions required to render. thespirally wound strip extensible and contractible,endwise of the spring, andsaid spirally wound strip being held at its other end port-ion against unwinding. V

' 4. The. combination, with a laminated spring which has anendfreeto, moveand is adapted to be supported at a point spaced from said end, of a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring-audits wound from its said end portion spirally around the spring in the direction of the aforesaid point and has two spaced outwardly projecting portions extending endwise of the strip, one of said projecting portions of the spirally wound strip extending. opposite the sides of and farther outwardly than the other projecting portion and being contoured in cr0sS section and arranged as required to form a cover for the lastmentioned projecting portion and having the dimensions required to render the spirally wound strip extensible and co'ntractible endwise ofthe spring, and said sp rally wound strip being held at its other end portion against unwinding.

. The combination, with a v laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported at its thickest portion, of a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring and is wound spirally around the spring in the directi n of the thickest portion of the spring and has two spaced outwardly projecting portions extending .endwise of said strip, oneof said projecting por-= tions of the spirally wound strip beingcontoured in cross-section and arranged as required to form a cover for the other of said projecting portions and having the dimensions required to render thespirally wound strip extensible and contractible endwise of the spring,and means arranged adjacent the thickest portion of the spring and holding the spirally wound strip, at the other end portion of said strip, against unwinding.

6. The combination, with a laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported at its thickest portion, of a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring and is wound spirally around the spring in the direction of the thickest portion of the spring and has two spaced outwardly projecting portions extending endwise of said strip, one of saidprojecting ortions of the spirally wound strip exten ing opposite the sides of and farther outwardly than the other projecting portion and be-- and extending aroun dthe enclosure formed by the spirally wound strip and holdin said spirally wound strip; at the other en por-; tion of said strip, against unwinding.

7 The combination, with a laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported adjacent its thickest" portion, of a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring and is wound spirally around .the spring in the direction of the thickest portion of and forms an enclosure for the spring, and a sheet-metal strap arrangedadjacent the last-mentioned portion of the spring and extending around said en closure, one end portion of said stra'p haying a slot extending transversely of the strap, the other end portion of the strap overlapping the inner 'side of the slotted end portion of the strap between the slot and the free extremity of said slotted end portion and extending from said. side of said slotted end portion through the slot and being bent against the outer side of said slotted end portion. 1 j

8. lhe combination, with a laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported at'its thickest portiomof a flexiblestrip which hasone, end portion thereof adjacent-said end of the spring and isqwound spirally around the spring in the direction of the thickestportion of and forms, an'enciosure for the spring and has two spaced outwardlytprojecting ofis'et portions which are formed at the outer side of said strip and unequal in size in crossrsection and extend endwise of the strip, and a strap arranged adjacent the last- Inentioned portion of the spring and extending around said enclosure,' the larger ofi'set portionof the spirally wound strip being arranged externall of and forming a cover for the smaller 0 set portion Ofisfild, strip, and theaforesaid strap beingheld against movement endwiseof the aforesaid; enclosure.

9. The

thickest portion, of a flexible strip "which "has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring and iswound spirally around the v combination, with a. laminated spring reduced in, thickness toward one end. and adapted to be supported adjacent its reotion of the spirally wound strip being arranged externally of and forming a cover for the smaller offset portion of the strip, both of said offset portions being contoured in cross-section and arranged as required to form a spirally extending lubricant-receivin enlargement of the casing, and the spira ly wound strip being held, at its other end portion, agalnst unwinding.

10. The combination, with a laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported adjacent its thickest portion, of a casing comprising a flexible strip which has one end portion thereof adjacent said end of the spring and is wound spirally around the spring in the direction of the thickest portion of the spring and held against unwinding and has two spaced outwardly projecting ofiset portions which are formed at the outer side of said strip and unequal in size in cross-section and extend endwise of the strip, the larger offset portion of the spirally wound strip be-- ing arranged externally of and housin the smaller offset portion of the strip and orming a spirally extending lubricant-receiving enlargement of the casing.

11. The combination, with a laminated spring reduced in thickness toward one end and adapted to be supported adjacent its thickest portion, of a casing comprising a flexible strip which is wound spirally around the sprin in the direction of the thickest portion 0 the spring and held against unproximity to and facing the adjacent side of the casing and also having a hole which extends through the plate, and a lubricant-supplying cup having a body which is arranged in the main externally of the casing and secured at said holeto said plate and has an annular shoulder externally of the casing,

the casing havin a portion extending between said shou der and said plate, and said portion of the casing being clamped by and between said plate and said shoulder.

12. A spring'casing comprising a continuous ribbon formed about spring laminations and convolu'tions extending the full length of the spring, said ribbon having beaded edges, the head on one edge being larger than the bead on the other edge, wherebyan overlapping inter-engagement of each convolution may be obtained with adjacent convolutions, and thereby permit relative movement of the respective convolutions.

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, this 4th day of March,

JOHN ZULICH. 

